Western music singers and artists you want to listen to in summer: Ranking [2026]

AnacondaNicki Minaj71rank/position

Nicki Minaj – Anaconda

The intensely provocative lyrics that weaponize her physical allure to tease men are absolutely striking.

This is a work released in August 2014 by Nicki Minaj, an artist from Trinidad and Tobago who cemented her position as a leading female rapper.

Included on the acclaimed album “The Pinkprint,” the track boldly reconstructs a male-perspective song through sampling into a piece where a woman actively flaunts her sexuality.

It was so extreme that it was even banned from being played in certain regions.

The music video shocked the world, surpassing 100 million views in just 11 days after its release.

When you want to express yourself with confidence, why not surrender to the powerful beat of this track?

Feeling GoodNina Simone72rank/position

Feeling Good

Originally, this song was written for the musical “Roar of the Greasepaint—The Smell of the Crowd,” but perhaps the versions by Nina Simone and Michael Bublé are the best known.

While it has a dark, bluesy feel, the lyrics express a sense of being set free, feeling nature, and being in a truly good mood—celebrating joy.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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HappyPharrell Williams73rank/position

Pharrell Williams – Happy (Official Music Video)

This summer classic by Pharrell Williams became a worldwide hit, crafted into an uplifting track with a sense of speed and smooth, pleasing vocals.

Its blissful lyrics, a perfect match for bright, sunny days, wrap you in a feeling of happiness.

Don’t Stop The PartyPitbull ft. TJR74rank/position

Pitbull – Don’t Stop The Party ft. TJR

Pitbull, the Cuban-American rapper who has become synonymous with party anthems.

This track samples the 1973 Jamaican reggae song “Funky Kingston.” The music video features porn star Kennedy Leigh and model Claudia Sampedro.

SunflowerPost Malone, Swae Lee75rank/position

Post Malone, Swae Lee – Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) (Official Video)

A beautifully crafted collaboration by America’s Post Malone and Swae Lee that sings of the bittersweet ache of twilight and the complexities of love.

Using the sunflower as a metaphor, it portrays the struggle of a relationship where steadfast affection can at times become a burden, conveying with striking clarity the wavering emotions caught between dependence and freedom.

Released in October 2018 as the theme song for the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, it reached No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It also achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first song to receive double diamond certification from the RIAA.

A track that offers comfort to those facing the end of summer or wrestling with matters of the heart.

When Doves CryPrince76rank/position

Prince and the Revolution – When Doves Cry (Official Music Video)

A single cut from the 1984 album Purple Rain.

It was Prince’s first major hit, spending five consecutive weeks at number one on the charts and earning platinum status with over two million copies sold.

Despite its memorable riff, it’s experimental in that it repeats the same melody without a traditional chorus.

The breezy, beeping programmed sounds evoke the trends of the ’80s.

Even now, it sounds incredibly stylish—testament to a timeless talent.

Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)Rich Homie Quan77rank/position

Rich Homie Quan – Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)

It’s a musically accomplished track that fuses authentic Jamaican reggae with a slightly eerie rhythm.

The music video evokes a fun summer vibe, but the rhythm itself is intricate, as if crafted by a renowned electronica artist.